Ian McCarthy

Photo Illustration; McCarthy: Brendan McDermid / Landov; Getty

Homebuilders had plenty to do with the collapse of the housing market, not
just by building more homes than the country could stomach, but also by
pressuring people who couldn't really afford them to buy in. As CEO of
Beazer Homes since 1994, McCarthy has become something of a poster child
for the worst builder behaviors. An investigative series that ran in the
Charlotte Observer in 2007 highlighted Beazer's aggressive sales tactics, including lying about borrowers' qualifications to help them get
loans. The FBI, Department of Housing and Urban Development and IRS are all
investigating Beazer. The company has admitted that employees of its
mortgage unit violated regulations  like down-payment-assistance rules at least as far back as 2000. It is cooperating with federal investigators.